1969 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 40 SUV

The American Bantam MKII Jeep was rugged, durable, reliable, and remarkable. In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army found a Bantam Jeep while occupying the Philippines. The Japanese government then tasked Toyota with making a similar vehicle but the design could not mimic the American Jeep design. Within the same year, Toyota reverse-engineered the Bantam and the AK10 1/2-ton vehicle prototype. The result was Toyota's entry into the four-wheel drive market.

In 1960, production of the FJ40 in its most popular configurations began and continued through 1984. Those configurations included a two-door utility, a two-door pickup truck, and a four-door station wagon. During its production lifespan, there were few changes to its design.

In 1965, the Land Cruise was the best-selling Toyota in the United States. The removable hardtop made them popular with beach goers and boulevard cruisers. The high clearance, nimble maneuverability, and four-wheel drive made them suitable and capable for off-road terrain.

This particular example has been stored in a garage and not driven for over twenty years. It was given a comprehensive frame-on restoration to original specifications. It has an original F145 3.9-liter inline 6-cylinder engine mated to an original 3-speed manual transmission. It has had just two previous owners since new.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2016